Golf club

Abstract

A golf club includes a shaft and a head attached to the shaft. The head has forward and rear ends and a ball-striking face positioned adjacent the forward end. The golf club is also provided with a movable member having a propellant charge therein. The movable member is positioned in the head and is movable between a first position, in which it is positioned adjacent the rear end of the head, and a second position, in which is it positioned adjacent the front end of the head. A detonating mechanism is provided for detonating the charge when the movable member moves from its first position to its second position during the movement of the head. The charge causes the head to accelerate in a generally forward direction when the charge is detonated by the detonating mechanism.

1. A golf club comprising a shaft; a head attached to said shaft and having forward and rear ends and a ball-striking face positioned adjacent said forward end; a movable member having a propellant charge therein, said movable member being positioned in said head and being movable between a first position, in which it is positioned adjacent said rear end of said head, and a second position, in which is it positioned adjacent said front end of said head; and detonating means for detonating said charge when said movable member moves from its said first position to its said second position during the movement of said head, said charge causing said head to accelerate in a generally forward direction when said charge is detonated by said detonating means. 
   
   
     2. The golf club of  claim 1 , further comprising a barrel mounted in said head, said movable member being movably positioned in said barrel. 
   
   
     3. The golf club of  claim 2 , wherein said barrel extends axially between said forward and rear ends of said head. 
   
   
     4. The golf club of  claim 3 , wherein said ball-striking surface has a rear surface facing said rear end of said head, said barrel engaging said rear surface of said ball-striking surface so as to provide axial support to said ball-striking surface. 
   
   
     5. The golf club of  claim 4 , wherein said barrel has forward and rear ends, said barrel having an opening extending therethrough between said forward and rear ends of said barrel, said movable member being positioned adjacent said rear end of said barrel when said movable member is positioned in its said first position, said movable member being positioned adjacent said forward end of said barrel when said movable member is positioned in its said second position. 
   
   
     6. The golf club of  claim 5 , further comprising an end cap attached to said rear end of said barrel, said end cap being removable from said barrel such that said movable member can be removed from said barrel through said rear end of said barrel. 
   
   
     7. The golf club of  claim 6 , further comprising retaining means for releasably retaining said movable member in its said first position. 
   
   
     8. The golf club of  claim 7 , wherein said retaining means includes a magnet mounted to said end cap, said magnet releasably retaining said movable member in its said first position by a magnetic force. 
   
   
     9. The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein said detonating means is positioned adjacent the forward end of said head. 
   
   
     10. The golf club of  claim 9 , wherein said detonating means includes a firing pin, said movable member striking said firing pin when said movable member moves from its said first position to its said second position. 
   
   
     11. The golf club of  claim 10 , wherein said movable member includes a chamber member and a cartridge removably received in said chamber member, said chamber member being movable conjointly with said cartridge. 
   
   
     12. The golf club of  claim 11 , wherein said charge is housed in said cartridge, said cartridge including a primer for igniting said charge. 
   
   
     13. The golf club of said  claim 12 , wherein said cartridge is received in said chamber member such that said primer strikes said firing pin when said movable member moves from its said first position to its said second position. 
   
   
     14. The golf club of  claim 12 , wherein said charge produces a high-velocity stream of gases when said charge is detonated by said detonating means. 
   
   
     15. The golf club of  claim 14 , further-comprising directing means for directing said stream in a generally rearward direction so as to accelerate said head in said generally forward direction. 
   
   
     16. The golf club of  claim 15 , wherein said directing means includes an opening formed in said chamber member. 
   
   
     17. The golf club of  claim 12 , further comprising removing means for permitting the removal of said cartridge after the detonation of said charge. 
   
   
     18. The golf club of  claim 17 , wherein said head has a bottom, said removing means including an access opening formed in said bottom of said head, said cartridge being sized and shaped so as to be removed from said head through said access opening. 
   
   
     19. The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein said movable member moves from its said first position to its said second position when said head impacts a golf ball.